One terrorist killed, SPO martyred in Baramulla encounter, arms and ammunition seized

SRINAGAR: In an overnight encounter, the security forces gunned down a terrorist in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday morning.

One Special Police Officer (SPO) also lost his life in the encounter, which has concluded now.

#UPDATE Baramulla encounter: One Special Police Officer (SPO) lost his life in the encounter, one terrorist has been gunned down. The encounter has concluded. #JammuAndKashmir https://t.co/SzhyNCvob1 — ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2019

As per sources, around 2-3 terrorists were engaged in the gunfight as the joint operation between the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and other security agencies was launched.

The authorities said that there was a heavy exchange of gunfire between both sides throughout the night.

The encounter began around 5 PM in old Baramullah, according to Army sources after which the entire area was cordoned off for the public.

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This was the first encounter between security forces and terrorists in the Kashmir Valley ever since the Narendra Modi-led NDA government abrogated special category status to Jammu and Kashmir on August 5 by abrogating Article 370 of the Constitution.

Kashmir Valley has been by and large peaceful barring stray incidents of stone-pelting and protests since August 5. The number of ceasefire violations by Pakistan across the LoC has increased, however, over the past week after a lull in the first fortnight of August.

Baramullah is located around 54 km from Srinagar.